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Australia delivers military stores as UN gives support

Military hardware on the way to Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq. Photo: Defence Department

Australia has completed its first drop of arms to Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq without incident, the Defence Department said.

The delivery was part of the US-led effort to fend off Islamic State militants, also known as ISIL militants.

The C-17A Globemaster aircraft flew to Tirana in Albania over the weekend where it was loaded before delivering the ammunition to the Kurdish town of Erbil via Baghdad.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon says it's important nations such as Australia help address the situation in Iraq. Photo: Getty Images

It then landed back at Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.

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"The aircraft's crew has confirmed that no shots were fired at the aircraft and that their mission was carried out without incident," Defence said in a statement early on Wednesday.

Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral David Johnston said further aid, stores and support flights may be planned to assist the people of northern Iraq, who remain under threat from extremist fighters.

"The aircrew and support staff at Joint Task Force 633 have done a great job to successfully coordinate this mission to assist the people of northern Iraq," he said.

"The cargo, in this case ammunition, was first inspected and cleared by Iraqi officials onboard the aircraft in Baghdad before the aircraft landed in Erbil."

RAAF C17A has successfully delivered military stores to northern Iraq overnight & returned to UAE

RAAF C17A has successfully delivered military stores to northern Iraq overnight & returned to UAE

The delivery comes as Australia's latest role in Iraq received the backing of UN chief Ban Ki-moon.

The UN Secretary-General said it was important nations such as Australia help address the situation in Iraq.

"Without addressing this issue through certain means, including some military and counter-terrorist actions, we will just end up allowing these terrorist activities to continue," he told reporters in Auckland on Tuesday.

Australia's international standing will go up a notch when Foreign Minister Julie Bishop accepts this week a formal invitation for the nation to become an "enhanced partner" of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

Although not a member, Australia's engagement with NATO has grown steadily in recent years especially through the mission in Afghanistan.

Ms Bishop is heading to the NATO summit in Wales as Prime Minister Tony Abbott warns of further risks involved in the Iraq mission.

However he talked down reports a C-130 Hercules aircraft undertaking Australia's second humanitarian airdrop to the town of Amerli had come under fire from extremists.

"I'm not advised that they came under direct fire themselves," he said.

Defence chief Mark Binskin tweeted there were no reports the transport came under fire, but ground fire was "not unusual in a war zone".

Mr Abbott said risks should be expected.

"Obviously, flying humanitarian air drops into combat zones are full of risk. But the risks are reasonable given the importance of the missions they're flying."

The US Defence Department said in a statement US aircraft had conducted three air strikes against nearby Islamic State terrorists in support of the Amerlli airdrop, but all aircraft safely exited the area.

Labor leader Bill Shorten restated his support for the airdrops and weapons airlift but acknowledged there were easy options there.

"Providing the Kurds with light weapons, the opportunity to defend themselves against people who would kill their families, to me is the only logical choice here," Mr Shorten said.

He later told Labor caucus the party would not support putting Australian troops on the ground in Iraq.

Mr Abbott told a coalition joint party room meeting there had been no requests for combat troops and there was a "world of difference" between the war in 2003 and today.